Electric mine cage and elevator



(No Model. v 3 SheetsSheet 1.

O. J. CUTLER.

' ELBUTRIG MINE GAGE AND ELEVATOR.

PatentedApr. 14, 1896.

W/TNESSES. lNVENTOH 7 Arromvgw' AN DREW B4GRAHAM PHOTO-LITNO.WA$HINGTONJ1C (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. J. CUTLER.

ELECTRIC MINE GAGE AND ELEVATOR.

No. 558,450. 5 Eatented Apr. 14, 1896.

A W ITNSSESI I INVENTOH I A TTOHNE Yd,

ANDREW B.GRANAM FHGTO-LiTHQWASMINGI'UNJICJ n:

(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 3.

G.- J. CUTLER. I ELEGTRIUMINE GAGE AND ELEVATOR.

Patented Apr. 14, 1896.v

WITNESSES.-

ANDREW B4GRAHAM. PHDTOUYHQWASHIN GTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. CUTLER, OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

ELECTRIC MINE CAGE AND ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 558,450, dated April14, 1896.

Application filed June 26,1895. Serial No. 554,116. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. CUTLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Butte, in the county of Silver Bow and State of Montana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Mine Cagesand Elevators; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will en able othersskilled in the art to which it appertains embodies a main cage A, thepreferable conto make and use the same.

My invention relates more particularly to an improved cage or elevatorfor miningshafts and operative mechanism therefor, and primarily has forits object a simple and easilymanipulated electrically-controlledelevating mechanism and means for rendering it safe and positive inoperation.

It also has for a further object providing a counterbalance for thecage, which latter carries an electric motor connected through a trolleyor other suitable contact mechanism with a live wire or other electricsource of supply secured to the side of the elevatorshaft.

A further object is to provide, in connection with theelectrically-controlled elevating devices, a simple arrangem ent ofbrake mechanism, whereby its upward or downward movement may be easilycontrolled or arrested by hand or foot power, or automatically in caseof breakage of the counterbalance-cable; also peculiarly constructed andoperated chairblocks adapted to be thrust out laterally from thecage-platform to engage the sides of the shaft at suitable points toarrest and support the cage at any desired stopping-point.

With other minor objects, which will be hereinafter referred to, itconsists in certain details of construction and arrangement of parts,that will be set forth in the specification, illustrated in thedrawings, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of myelevator-cage, showing same in position in the shaft, parts being brokenaway to better illustrate the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectiontaken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrow. Fig. 3 is a View, partly in vertical section and partly inerated; and Fig. 5, a section of same, showing construction of itscentral portion.

In its practical application my invention struction of which is shown inFig. 4, and

comprises pendent members a a, connected at the top by a cross-beam aand at the sides attached by the cross-heads a to divergent hanger-barsB, which connect at a point near their lower ends with the motorcarrying frame C.

D D are a pair of rock-shafts journaled in the cross-heads a carryingnear their centers pulleys d, to which are connected chains d dependingfrom a swivel secured to the lower end of the lift-bar E, to the upperend of which lift-bar the counterbalance-cable G is attached. On theouter ends of these rockshafts are toothed cams D, thepurposes of whichwill be hereinafter explained.

F indicates a hood or cover portion through which passes the lift-bar E,connecting with the counterbalance -cable G, which latter vpasses overthe large sheave H and supports at its lower end counterweight I, ofsuitable form and size.

J indicates a platform mounted on the cageframe at a suitable pointabove the motorframe 0, which I term the operators platform, as upon itis mounted or disposed the controlling-lever, rheostat, and brakemechanism.

L is an electric motor of any preferred construction, having its shaftjournaled in the trame C of the cage. Upon the outer ends of themotor-shaft are cog-pinions M, which are held to engage the racks n onone side of the guide-timbers N, which guide-timbers are suitablysecured within the shaft at opposite sides of the cage. Themotor-shaftis also provided at intermediate points near each end withcog-pinions m of somewhat larger diameter than those on the ends. Thesepinions mesh with similar cog-pinions O on an auxiliary shaft 0',journaled in frame 0 alongside of the motor. provided on its ends withsmaller pinions 0 which engage the racks 'n on the opposite sides of theguide-timbers N. The motorshaft is further provided near the supportedmotor with enlargements or pulleys L L over which pass the steelbrake-bands P, having wooden brake-blocks.

The lower end of each brake-band P is socured 011 the under side of afixed portion of the cage-frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and itsopposite or upper end is secured to the legs of the pivoted transversemember p, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the bands may be clamped ortightened around the pulleys L L or loosened when it is desired to applyor release the brakes.

The member 12, carrying the upper ends of the brake-bands, is depressedby either foot or hand power. To the center of its transverse portion isaflixed a vertical standard 7;, projecting upward through the platformand terminating in a head or foot rest 0), thus forming a foot-lever Pby means of which the operator is enabled to readily depress said memberand clamp the spring brake'bands with his foot. A transverse slot oropening XV is also formed on the rear side of member 1) by means ofprojecting lugs e 6, adjacent to each other, for the accommodation ofthe hand-brake P This hand-brake consists of a vertical screw-rodsurmounted by a handwheel and extending down through the platform J,through the slot V, and having its lower end revolubly secured in themotorframe 0. This rod is screw-threaded where it passes through theslot WV, and upon the screw-threaded portion above the member 19 isplaced a nut 13, designed to be forced down the screw-threaded portionof the rod and carry with it the member p when the rod is revolved byhand. In order to prevent the nut from turning with the rod, it isprovided with a perforated shank Y, intended to fit over and move upon avertical guide-rod 2.

It will be observed that by means of the hand-brake the bands P may beclamped in a locked position by screwing the nut down, while when onlythe foot-brake is used the brake is released when the pressure of thefoot is removed. Either brake may be used separately or both inconjunction.

Q, represents a rheostat mounted on the operators platform forcontrolling the motor.

R is a hand-lever fulcrumed on the shaft 0 to which are secured, oneabove and one below the fulcrum, chair blocks or plungers S S, securedin guides on the under side of frame 0 and projecting in oppositedirections. These plungers are adapted to be projected outward throughthe medium of the lever B, so that their ends will engage a rack oropenings in the sides of the shaft at any desired point for the purposeof arresting and sustaining the cage when ascending or descend- 1n Thisauxiliary shaft is also T indicates a trolley or contact-maker flexiblysecured to the frame C and which engages the wire or circuit-plate U,secured to the side wall of the shaft, as shown.

By referring again to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the rack-guides Noccupy a position between the toothed-faced cams D D when the cage is inposition, said cams being held out of contact with the racks n n by thechains cl, while the cage is suspended by the counterbalance-cable G.Should the latter break, the rock-shafts D would be caused to turn bythe weight of thecams, throwing the toothed faces of the latter incontact with the racks n n on the guides N, and they would operateasautomatic safety-clutches, arrestin g the downward movement of the cage.At the same time the chair-blocks or plungerrods S S might be forcedoutward by the lever and serve as an additional means of supporting thecage. The normal condition of the plunger-rods is as shown in Fig. 1,and when desired to operate them the lever is thrown forward in thedirection indicated by the arrow.

The lower ends of the pendent members B of the cage are provided witheye-holes for conveniently attaching a lower cage or compartment, itbeing my purpose in mining work to have a two-compartment cage, oneabove the other, the upper to be occupied by the operator.

lVhile my improved cage or elevatoris more especially designed formining-shafts, it is obvious that it may be adapted to the purposes ofan ordinary elevator, and the details of construction modified or variedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electrically-operated elevator, the combination with fixedvertical guides provided with toothed racks on opposite sides, of acage, an electric motor carried on the cage-platform having pinions onthe ends of its shaft engaging the racks on one side of the verticalguides, an auxiliary shaft journaled in the cage-platform parallel withthe motor-shaft, also provided with pinions on its ends engaging thetoothed racks on the other or opposite side of the vertical guides,intermeshing gearing mounted on the respective shafts whereby both aremade to operate in unison, and a trolley carried on the cage in contactwith a conductor connected with an electrical source of supply,substantially as and for the purpose described.

the rock-shafts with the counterbalance-cable whereby the cams are heldnormally out of engagement with the rack-bars but permitted to come incontact with the latter should the counterbalance-cable break or giveway, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination in'an electrically-operated elevator, with thetraveling cage thereof, the brake consisting of metallic straps, andbrake-operating mechanism consisting of the transverse member 10 pivotedon thecar, the foot-lever on said member 10, and the handbrake rod andits nut, of the motor carried by the cage and having pulleys on itsshaft, and its gearing, said metallic straps inclosing said pulleys andbeing secured at their upper ends to said transverse member, whereby themetallic straps may be clamped on the pulleys by the foot or hand of theoperator and locked in the clamped position, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the elevator-cage, of the vertical lever Bfulcrumed in the motor supporting frame and extending up through theplatform J within reach of the operator, and the plungers S, S, movablysecured in guides on the under side of said motor-supporting frame,their inner ends con-

